Optical keyboard

Details Optical keyboard Optical keyboard

1981-06-19

1983-06-07

Robinson, Thomas A.

Communications: electrical

Audible indication

Percussion-type sound producer

178 18, 250221, G08B 536, G06M 700, H01J 3912

Patent

active

043873677

ABSTRACT:
A matrixed, optical keyboard comprising structure 10 defining an array of touch areas 14 arranged in rows 16 and columns 17, and paired light sources and light sensors 20, 22 disposed at opposite ends of each row and each column and positioned to define a path of light. Light refocussing elements 24 are disposed contiguously about and define the touch areas and extend into the light path thereby refocussing the light beam prior to traversing each touch area and prior to impinging on the associated light sensor. In one embodiment, the keyboard and light refocussing elements are integrally molded and form a unitary structure. In another embodiment, the keyboard is formed with structure for maintaining an indicia card 44 behind and in alignment with the touch areas so that indicia area 44a are visible through the touch areas 14'.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3056030 (1962-09-01), Kelchner
patent: 3372789 (1968-03-01), Thiele et al.
patent: 3526775 (1970-09-01), Friedrich et al.
patent: 3757322 (1973-09-01), Barkan et al.
patent: 4205304 (1980-05-01), Moore

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